USC defense has look of a champion

LOS ANGELES – USC is supposed to contend for the national championship in fall. As spring practice came to a close Saturday, quarterback Matt Barkley was asked if the team felt like a title contender.

"Based on the way they came out," he said, pointing to the defense, "it kind of does."

For the most part, the defense outplayed the offense during the spring game at the Coliseum. The majority of spring camp unfolded that way as well.

That has to be considered a good sign for a team that whose Barkley-led, star-powered offense is bound to come around once it gets healthy.

The offense did not have receiver Robert Woods, a Biletnikoff Award finalist in 2011, for all of spring camp. At times it didn't have any scholarship tight ends.

The defense, meanwhile, is deeper and more experienced than at any time since Lane Kiffin became coach in 2010.

"I think we can do some special things this year," said senior cornerback Isiah Wiley, who broke up five passes Saturday.

Wiley dropped an interception, but safety Drew McAllister and cornerback Brian Baucham each had one. The defense, which earned points for making stops and getting turnovers, defeated the offense, 34-27. It did so without being allowed to tackle.

The defense seems to be building on the way it ended last season, when USC shut out UCLA. The offense hasn't often resembled the unit that piled up 50 points on the Bruins. It didn't end spring playing championship-caliber ball. But Barkley is confident it will get there.

"I'm not worried at all," said Barkley, who completed 23 of 39 passes for 212 yards with a touchdown and an interception Saturday.

"I don't think it'll take long for us to get up to 110 percent."

NO. 2 QB RACE

Kiffin remained noncommittal about the backup quarterback race between Cody Kessler and Max Wittek, and the coach probably won't name one until late in fall camp.

But Kiffin did note Wittek's improvement since last spring.

"Where we talked about Cody was kind of confident all along, I really feel like Max has grown in our offense and is very different than he was a year ago," Kiffin said.

Both quarterbacks made good plays and not-so-good ones Saturday. Kessler finished 3 of 6 for 68 yards with a touchdown and an interception; Wittek was 3 of 7 for 27 yards.

"I've done all I can," Wittek said. "I've put my résumé on tape. Whatever decision they make is the decision they make."

NOTES

Quarterback Jesse Scroggins, who has missed most of spring because of academics and a hip injury, played one series and complete 1 of 3 passes for 14 yards. ... Tailback D.J. Morgan had one of the early offensive highlights, dashing 47 yards for a touchdown on the second series. ... Tailback Buck Allen's injury-plagued spring ended in disappointment as he had to leave the scrimmage after tweaking his hamstring. Allen had three carries for 11 yards. ... Defensive end Morgan Breslin, who had a sack, had to come out because of a stinger. ... Receiver Victor Blackwell (foot) played after missing Thursday's practice. ... Receiver George Farmer, who had missed most of spring because of a hamstring injury, played with the second-team offense. ... The announced attendance was 15,515.